Process and apparatus for the treatment of textile materials



June l 7, 1969 H. FLEISSNER 3,450,486

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TEXTILE M TERI'ALs Filed April 28, 1967 F 9- II I 8 I6 ,4 O0 000 4 I2 I9 )9 0 O O OO 9 "i o oo oQ W T 4 6 ZOJ 19,

2 lai l%% oocz oo 7 V'L Y I OO 000 9 Inventor:

HAM: FLe'IJsNGE BY M b Q MTaKM/EYS United States Patent US. Cl. 8149.3 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a process and apparatus for the treatment of materials, for example, textile materials such as printed or dyed fabric, tricot, tufted carpets, fiber fleeces, non-Wovens, and the like, which advantageously can be stressed in the longitudinal direction. More particularly, the present invention concerns a process and apparatus for the treatment of textile materials wherein the material being treated is conveyed on the same side of substantially all of the conveying means and perforated baflile means are provided at those portions of the conveying means which are not covered with the material being treated, said baffie means functioning to control the flow'of the treatment medium into the conveying means on that side of said conveying means. If the process of the present invention is carried out in a saturated steam atmosphere, the steam is introduced into the circulation of the treatment medium through that portion of the conveying means which is not covered with the material being treated.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the treatment of materials, preferably to a process and apparatus for the steaming and dyestuff setting of textile materials which advantageously can be stressed in the longitudinal direction and which may be supported unilaterally during the treatment process. More particularly, the present invention concerns the steaming and dyestufi? setting of textile materials, such as for example, printed or dyed fabric, tricot, tufted carpets, fiber fleeces, non-Wovens, and the like, in running lengths, wherein the material being treated is conveyed inside a treatment chamber on conveying means, for example, sieve drums subjected to a suction draft, on the same side of substantially all of the sieve drums, preferably on the upper portions thereof, and wherein the suction draft is produced by fan means which are correlated to the faces of said sieve drums.

Apparatus comprising sieve drums subjected to a suction draft are well known. Generally, the sieve drums in these apparatus are only partially covered with the material being treated. At those portions of the conveying means, for example, sieve drums, which are not covered with the material being treated, the suction draft is interrupted by means of baffles which are arranged in the sieve drums. By the alternate arrangement of the bafiles in the upper portion of one sieve drum and the lower portion of the next sieve drum, the material is held and guided on the upper portion of one drum and on the lower portion of the subsequent drum and so on. The drums may be arranged in one horizontal row or in one vertical row or in two rows staggered with respect to each other. In these devices radial fan wheels with two-sided air discharged ducts are correlated to the faces of the sieve drums for the production of a suction draft. In order to permit the use of fan wheels which are as large as possible and which correspondingly possess high suc- 3,450,486 Patented June 17, 1969 tion capacities, the fan wheels are not arranged in the fan casings. The treatment medium, preferably air, which is withdrawn from the sieve drums is generally subdivided into two partial flows in the fans and discharged upwards and downwards in the fan chamber. The partial flows of two adjacent sieve drums which are directed to one side of the apparatus are then combined and again drawn through the material being treated and into the sieve drum which carries the material at that side. By using this system of air guidance it is not only possible to install extremely large fan wheels and thus elfect high fan capacities, but also the air is well mixed and distributed which results in an especially uniform treatment effect. However, the aforementioned known devices are only suitable for materials which may be supported by the sieve drum alternately on either side. In the case of materials which may be supported only unilaterally during the drying or setting process, for example printed fabric or tufted carpets, this kind of material guidance and this system of air guidance cannot be used.

Furthermore, apparatus comprising sieve drums subjected to a suction draft are also known wherein each sieve drum is provided with fan means which are enclosed in a casing which is provided with a discharge opening, so that the air discharged by the fan can be returned to the suction side of the sieve drums. However, these devices incorporate the disadvantage that due to the presence of the fan casings only small fan wheels which have a correspondingly lower capacity can be used. Also, these fan casings render the device more expensive. The aforementioned disadvantages explain why devices comprising sieve drums subjected to a suction draft and possessing unilateral material guidance could not be introduced into practice, and why belt dryers are generally used for materials which may be supported unilaterally only.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the prior art disadvantages in processes and apparatus for the treatment of materials, for example, textile materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for the steaming and dyestutf setting of textile materials which advantageously can be stressed in the longitudinal direction and which may be supported unilaterally during the treatment process.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for the treatment of textile materials which may only be supported unilaterally and which offers the advantages of an air penetration through the material being treated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for the steamtreatment of textile materials wherein the steam which may contain entrained liquid does not initially come into direct contact with the material being treated, but rather is mixed in the sieve drum and the fan chamber with the other partial flows of the treatment medium and guided over a heating unit before it is drawn through the material to be processed.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Pursuant to the present invention, it has been found that the above-mentioned disadvantages may be eliminated and a much improved process and apparatus for the treatment of textile materials may be obtained by utilizing the process and apparatus of the present invention. According to the present invention, the treatment medium drawn out of the conveying means, for example, sieve drums, is subdivided in the fan chamber into two partial flows, which are returned to the treatment chamber above and below each sieve drum. That portion of the sieve drum which is not covered with the material being treated is completely or partially free from bafile means interrupting the suction draft of the treatment medium supplied at that side of the sieve drum. The air guidance system of the present invention offers the advantage that extremely large fan wheels with their corresponding powerful suction drafts can be used and that the space above and below the fan wheels can be effectively utilized for the installation of heaters. If the apparatus is used for drying, only the partial flow of air which penetrates the material is enriched with moisture. The other partial flow comprising dry, heated air is drawn in at that side of the sieve drum which is not covered with the material being treated. This partial air flow radiates part of its heat to the sieve drum and the sieve drum transfers the heat to the material being treated on the sieve drum by contact heat transfer. In the sieve drum and in the fan chamber this partial flow of dry air is mixed with the partial flow of moist air so that a full utilization of the lower heaters is ensured.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the sieve drums are spaced apart a predetermined distance which is larger than-twice the material thickness, preferably a distance of about to times the material thickness and the material being treated is permitted to hang in loops between the sieve drums. Such a material guidance is of particular advantage in the case of treatments which require extended treatment times, for example, in the case of dyestuffs setting or curing processes.

The apparatus according to the present invention is particularly effective if the process to be carried out takes place in a saturated steam atmosphere. Thus, a trough filled with water and provided with a heating unit may be arranged in the bottom of the apparatus for the generation of saturated steam. In known sieve drum streamers the material to be treated is guided on the upper portion of one sieve drum and on the lower portion of the subsequent sieve dru'rn. With this arrangement there is the danger that the steam which is circulated at a high speed will carry along with it liquid from the sump, which may result in stains being introduced onto the matetrial being treated, and in many cases tends to reduce the value of the material and in some instances renders it completely useless. Using the apparatus of the present invention the saturated steam which comes into contact with the sump does not initially come into direct contact with the material being treated, but rather is mixed in the sieve drum and the fan chamber with the other partial flow of the treatment medium and guided over a heating unit before it is drawn through the material to be processed. Therefore, the danger that condensate stains may form on the material due to liquid droplets carried along from the sump has been substantially eliminated. Thus the apparatus of the present invention is not only of advantage as a steamer for materials which may only be supported unilaterally during treatment, but also and as such, for materials wherein a liquid deposition on the material is undesirable.

In order to prevent air from being drawn into the apparatus at the intake, it is desirable according to another embodiment of the present invention to surround the guiding element at the inlet, for example a conveyor belt with a casing subjected to a suction draft. When using the apparatus as a steamer, it is suggested in a further embodiment of the present invention to heat the ceiling of the casing at the inlet in order to avoid the formation of condensate therein. An effective sealing of the outlet can also be obtained by means of a water seal. An effective design results if between the water seal and the sieve drum a sheet is provided for guiding the material to be treated into the water seal. Instead of using a water seal however, it is also possible to surround the outlet elements with a casing which is subjected to a suction draft.

In order to prevent the material length from sliding on the upper side of the inlet slit as a result of a difference between the driving speed of the inlet means and that of the sieve drum, it is further suggested to provide a distance between the inlet elements and the first sieve drum, said distance being larger than about twice the material thickness, but in any event, sufficiently large that a material loop can be formed between the inlet element and the first sieve drum. In order to facilitate loop formation, it is desirable if the speeds of the individual conveying means, for example the inlet elements, sieve drums and outlet elements can be infinitely adjusted independently of each other. If the apparatus is to be continuously operated with material loops between the individaul conveying elements, it is furthermore desirable to provide a regulating device which ensures a loop-like hanging of the material at the points of passage. As a measuring element for the loop, a mechanical or electrically operated feeler or magic eye and/or alight barrier can be effectively used.

In order to prevent too much steam from being drawn off at the inlet casing and/ or the outlet it is furthermore suggested to provide between the treatment chamber and inlet and/ or outlet means a contact-free sealing means, for example, a labyrinth packing. For automatic material threading it is furthermore advantageous to provide a trough-shaped chute at the points of passage between two conveying elements, especially between two sieve drums. It is also expedient to mount the chute in such a way that it can be adjusted, so that it is possible to lower the chute and thus ensure either the formation of a larger loop or to disengage the chute and thus prevent its contact with the material being treated during the operation.

The suction draft at those portions of the sieve drums which are not covered with the material being treated can be controlled by providing two perforated sheets in or at the sieve drums as baffle means. By displacing one sheet against the other the free area defined by the perforations in the bafiie sheets can be effectively controlled.

Brief description of the drawings The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are limitative of the present invention and wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of the sieve drum steamer of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to FIGURE 1.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a substantially closed, heat-insulated housing 1 which is subdivided by a partition 2 into a treatment chamber 3 containing sieve drums 4 and a fan chamber 5 containing fan wheels '6 and heaters 7 disposed above and below said fan wheels. In order to equalize the circulating treatment medium, for example steam, over the entire working width of the sieve drums, perforated sheets 8 are provided above and below the sieve drums. In the treatment chamber 3 a trough 9 which is partially filled with a liquid 10 is arranged at the bottom of the housing. In addition, heater tubes 11 are arranged in the trough for heating up the liquid 10 and/or for generating saturated steam.

For feeding the material 12 to the apparatus to be processed, a conveyor belt 13 which is surrounded by a casing 14 subjected to a suction draft is used at the inlet. In the ceiling of the casing a heating means 15 is mounted in order to avoid the formation of condensate on the ceiling of the inlet housing, which can drop onto the material 12. The inlet can be sealed against the treatment chamber 3 by a labyrinth packing 16. At the outlet of the apparatus a water seal 17 is used for sealing the treatment chamber from the atmosphere. The material is thus passed from the last sieve drum 4 via a chute 18 to the water seal.

In each sieve drum two perforated baffles 19 are provided at that portion of the sieve drum which is not covered with the material being treated. By displacing the bafiies against each other a suction draft of varying intensity can be established at this portion of the sieve drum. At the two longitudinal walls of the apparatus a drum drive 20 and a fan drive 21 are accommodated.

Since modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constitution shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed:

1. An apparatus for the treatment of materials which comprises a substantially closed housing, at least one perforated conveying means rotatably disposed within said housing such that the material being treated is conveyed on the same side of substantially all of the conveying means, wherein that portion of the conveying means which is not covered with the material being treated is provided with perforated bafiie means which is complementary to at least a substantial portion of the surface of the perforated conveying means, said baflle means slidably disposed with respect to said portion of the conveying means such that the amount of flow of the treatment medium into the conveying means on that side of the conveying means can be infinitely controlled, inlet means for introducing the material to be treated to said conveying means, fan means communicating with the interior of the conveying means for drawing a treatment medium out of the conveying means, heating means provided within the circulation zone of the treatment medium and outlet means for removing the treated material from the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment medium drawn out of the conveying means is subdivided into two partial flows which return the treatment medium above and beneath the conveying means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveying means are cylindrical sieve drums and the material being treated is conveyed on the upper portions thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein more than one conveying means is utilized, said conveying means being spaced apart a distance of at least twice the thickness of the material being treated.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the conveying means are spaced apart a distance of about 10 to 20 times the thickness of the material being treated.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the material being treated is disposed and conveyed in loops between the conveying means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a steam generating means is provided in the housing adjacent that portion of the conveying means which is not covered with the material being treated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the steam generating means is a water-filled container provided with a heating means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet means is a conveying element which is surrounded by a casing means subjected to a suction draft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the casing is heated.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet means is sealed by a water seal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a chute means is disposed between the outlet conveying means and the water seal.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inlet means and the first conveying means are spaced apart a distance suiiicient to provide a loop in the material being treated between the inlet means and the conveying means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inlet means and the first conveying means are spaced apart a distance of more than twice the thickness of the material being treated.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet means is sealed against the housing by a contact-free packing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet means is sealed against the housing by a contact-free packing means.

17. A method for the treatment of textile materials which can be stressed in the longitudinal direction which comprises introducing the material to be treated to at least one perforated conveying means subjected to a suction draft, conveying said material on the same side of substantially all of the conveying means, drawing a portion of the treatment medium through said material being treated and into the conveying means, drawing another portion of the treatment medium into the conveying means at that portion not covered with said material, mixing both portions of the treatment medium in the conveying means, and drawing said mixed portions out of the conveying means and returning it to the surface of the conveying means.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the textile materials are selected from the group consisting of printed fabric, dyed fabric, tricot, tufted carpets, fiber fleeces, and non-Wovens.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the material being treated is conveyed on the upper portions of substantially all of the conveying means and steam is introduced into the lower portions of said conveying means.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the steam which is drawn into the conveying means is mixed with the treatment medium drawn through the material being treated, and the mixture is drawn out of the conveying means by a suction draft, split into two partial flows and returned to the treament process above and below the conveying means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,447 4/1963 Fleissner 34-115 3,149,004 9/1964 Fleissner 34-l 15 X 3,242,702 3/ 1966 Fleissner 68-5 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 34-115, 242; 685 

